One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,7

tonight. We finally got the results back on your X-ray. Just as we thought, a hairline fracture in the fibula—” He stopped mid-sentence, surprise washing over the older doctor’s features when he realized Lemon and the officers were in the room.

“Jaxson was able to identify our mystery woman,” Officer Williams said with a boastful grin, as if he’d been the one to solve the case.

It irked Jaxson that the officer was speaking of Lemon as if she weren’t present. Did she have amnesia? The notion seemed far-fetched, like something out of a book or movie. A memory tickled Jaxson’s brain, giving him a start. Lemon’s dad had suffered from amnesia. Jaxson tried to remember the full story. Was amnesia an inherited thing?

Jaxson realized Daddy was watching him.

“There’s something else,” Knox surmised.

“Yes,” Jaxson acknowledged, “but we’ll talk later, in private.”

Knox looked like he might argue but finally nodded.

Birdie stood and went over to Lemon, sliding a protective arm around her shoulders. “Here, hon, why don’t you sit down?” Jaxson felt a burst of pride over Mama’s kindness. She always felt like she had to mother the entire countryside.

“Thanks,” Lemon said with a slight smile of gratitude as she sat down in Birdie’s seat. Jaxson’s skin zinged like it had gotten zapped by battery cables. It was odd, and strangely exciting, to have Lemon sitting so close. Jaxson could hardly believe that she was real. His eyes were drawn to her. The years seemed to peel away. They’d shared so much together. Jaxson had wanted to build a future with Lemon, but she had other ideas. She’d gone out and conquered the world. She had a successful business, plenty of high-class friends.

Lemon met his gaze briefly before looking away. No doubt she could feel him staring a hole through her. He had to force himself to shift his eyes away from her. What was it about Lemon that had him so worked up? Yeah, she was a beauty, but Jaxson had a long line of beauties vying for his attention. The only thing he could surmise was that he was so caught up in Lemon because she was the one who got away.

His brain worked to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Lemon had a flat tire and was walking to get help. That was the story, but it didn’t explain why Lemon had been standing in the middle of the road. Or why she was acting so dazed. She appeared to be unhurt. She had no memory of who she was. Did she not have a purse or some other form of identification in her car? Why hadn’t she simply called for a service to come and fix her flat tire? Jaxson wished Ramsey were here instead of on a plane, headed on his honeymoon. Ramsey was the detective in the family. It wouldn’t be hard for him to get to the bottom of the situation.

Knox looked at the doctor. “Henry, can you tell us more about Lemon’s condition?”

Jaxson was momentarily thrown off by Daddy’s use of the doctor’s first name. Then, he remembered that the two golfed together.

The doctor looked at Lemon. “Did you remember your name?”

“No,” she said flatly.

“Jaxson saw Lemon at the scene of the accident,” Knox explained. “He recognized her.”

“I see.” The doctor hesitated, shifting his feet. “I’m not sure that the patient’s condition should be discussed so openly, with all of those present, privacy laws being what they are.”

“Hogwash,” Knox countered, glancing at Williams and Phillips. “The officers will have to know the details to file their report. As for the rest of us. We’re all friends here.” Knox motioned at Jaxson. “If he hadn’t recognized her, you’d have a Jane Doe on your hands. I’m sure the girl wants to know the depth of her condition.” He gave Lemon a challenging look.

Doctor Jepson looked to Lemon for approval. She nodded her consent.

“Are you sure?” Doctor Jepson asked.

“Yes,” she said simply, clenching her hands.

Jaxson could feel her duress and confusion as if it were his own. He was caught off guard by the fierce need that rose inside him. He wanted to protect Lemon at all costs. From what, he didn’t know. It just cut him to see her looking so pale, so uncertain.

“Henry?” Knox prompted.

All eyes moved to the doctor, waiting expectantly.

He touched the rim of his glasses before tightening his hold on his clipboard. “We’re still waiting for the results from the CT-Scan, but upon examination, I can’t find any evidence of trauma.